Position Report Card: Grading Oregon position groups at start of spring football
After a two-week break, the Oregon Ducks are getting set to return to the football field this week, resuming spring practices as they get prepared for the annual Spring Game on April 29th.
There are endless storylines to follow over the coming weeks, and a number of questions to answer about the current roster and schemes. We’ve tried to dive into an early look at some of the biggest points over conversation already this spring, but as we get set for spring ball to get underway once again this week, I wanted to offer a grade for each position group based on early projections. We don’t have a big sample size for which we can go off of, but based on roster makeup and early expectations, this will be how I expect each group to grade out.
After the spring game, I will revisit these grades and update the report card for each position.
Let’s get started.
Quarterbacks
Projected Position Grade: A
Analysis: I think that the Ducks were very close to getting an A+ grade for me at the quarterback position, but I’m slightly hesitant until we see Bo Nix on the field once again. He was incredible in 2022 and deserved to be mentioned among the best passers in the nation. He’s among the top Heisman candidates going into the 2023 season as well.
Can he keep up the stellar play, though? Or did all of the pieces align with a veteran offensive line and an offensive coordinator who he knew well a year ago? I’m not saying that I expect Nix to take a step back in production this year, but I am aware that it’s possible that we see him regress a bit more to the Auburn Bo than some fans want to admit. That’s what kept me from giving the QB room an A+.
Behind Nix, the Ducks are fortunate to have a very experienced backup in Ty Thompson, so they should feel comfortable that they have depth to rely on if needed.
Running Backs
(Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
Projected Position Grade: A-
Analysis: Again, I could see this position group rising to an A or an A+ in the future — they certainly have the talent to be one of the best backfields in the nation. Until we can see the leash taken off of Bucky Irving, though, I will knock them down a little bit.
Dan Lanning and his staff have been strict about the running back by committee model, understandably so, but it has led to one of the most dynamic runners we’ve seen in recent years at Oregon is restricted a bit. However, with Irving, Noah Whittington, Jordan James, and the potential emergence of Dante Dowdell or Jayden Limar this season, I think it could be one of the better running back groups we’ve ever seen for the Ducks.
Wide Receivers
(AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Projected Position Grade: B-
Analysis: At the top, I think Oregon is as good as anyone in the Pac-12 when it comes to receiver talent. Troy Franklin had a breakout year in 2022, and he could elevate himself to a national level if things continue that way in 2023. However, behind him, there are still some questions. If Alabama transfer Traeshon Holden can be a great player, and Troy transfer Tez Johnson can be an above-average addition, then the Ducks might have one of the better WR rooms in the conference.
There are just too many unknowns for me to give them an elite grade just yet. That all can change rather quickly, though. Once we get a glimpse of the depth pieces — Kyler Kasper, Ashton Cozart, Justius Lowe — in spring ball, it might improve the grade. We also have the prospect of Jurrion Dickey joining the team this summer, which will likely add a boost as well.
Tight Ends
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Position Grade: C+
Analysis: Like the WR room, I think the TE position suffers more from questions going forward rather than a lack of talent. Terrance Ferguson is as good of a TE as we’ve seen in Eugene in quite some time, and the ceiling for both Patrick Herbert and Kenyon Sadiq is high. However, both players are unproven, and there is a severe lack of depth in the position.
I have tabbed TE as one of the main areas where Oregon still needs to improve via the transfer portal, so if they can get a big-time player to come in during the month of May, this grade may go up. However, I think that until we really see what the Ducks have in the TE room outside of Ferguson, it has to be given an average grade.
Offensive Line
(Photo Courtesy of Zachary Neel | USA TODAY)
Projected Position Grade: B-
Analysis: The talent is certainly there, we just need to see how Oregon decides to deploy it all. With the prospect of replacing 4 of 5 starters from 2022, there will be some musical chairs on the offensive line for the Ducks. Fans can feel confident that guys like Josh Conerly and Ajani Cornelius will be more than capable of holding their own, and players like Marcus Harper, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Steven Jones and Junior Angilau should all duke it out for the remaining three spots. You also have guys like George Silva, Faoope Laulu, and Dave Iuli threatening to crack the rotation as well.
Again, I have no worries about the talent that Oregon has on the offensive line, but I just need to see the group in action before I bump their grade up.
Interior Defensive Line
Projected Position Grade: A-
Analysis: I think the defensive line is one of the strongest units for Oregon going into this year. With guys like Brandon Dorlus, Popo Aumavae, and Casey Rogers returning, there is a ton of experience at that position, You also have Taki Taimani back for another year, while the 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes are full of big-bodied players who could break out at any time.
We’ve seen in the past that Dan Lanning’s best defenses have had dominant players in the trenches. It appears that his Oregon defense is on its way there as well.
Edge Rushers
[Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
Projected Position Grade: B
Analysis: People may look at this grade and scoff, considering the addition of former 5-star Jordan Burch in the offseason. However, outside of Burch, there are a bunch of unknowns for the Ducks when it comes to pass rushers on the edge. Oregon was not good at getting after the quarterback in 2022, and while they added the top edge-rusher in the transfer portal this year, they still need more players to step up.
Brandon Dorlus may occasionally move outside, and there has been a lot of positive buzz around freshman Matayo Uiagalelei, but this unit was so bad a year ago that I can’t in my right mind give them an elite grade before I see some improvement on the field.
Linebackers
Projected Position Grade: C
Analysis: Another position group where there are currently a lot of unknowns. Iowa transfer Jestin Jacobs looks like he is going to be among the leaders in the group after showing what he could do with the Hawkeyes, and the Ducks also have Jeffrey Bassa and Keith Brown expected to take another step forward as well. Mase Funa should be ready to build on his Holiday Bowl performance as well and go out with a bang in Eugene.
There are still a lot of unproven players, though, and I think this is another area where the Ducks could stand to add a player or two via the transfer portal. Linebackers are a massive part of Lanning’s defensive scheme, so the Ducks will need to step up in this area if we’re expecting them to be as good as they can be in 2023.
Cornerbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Projected Position Grade: C-
Analysis: You might sense a theme on the defensive side of the ball…
There are more unknowns at the cornerback position as the Ducks try the fill the hole left by Christian Gonzalez. You have Trikweze Bridges as the lone returning starter, but a group of Khyree Jackson, Dontae Manning, Jahlil Florence, and several others competing for that other starting spot.
Can any of those guys rise to the Gonzalez level and become a shut-down corner for Oregon? It certainly would be a massive bonus for the Ducks. I’m going to need to see it before I can hand out an above-average grade, though.
Safeties
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Position Grade: B-
Analysis: I think that, for the most part, the Ducks should feel pretty good about their safety room. They brought in both Evan Williams and Tysheem Johnson through the transfer portal, and they have guys like Bryan Addison and Steve Stephens returning as well. There is depth there, and a lot of experience. We don’t yet know if Jamal Hill is going to line up primarily at safety or linebacker, but Oregon has a lot of guys to turn to at the safety spot.
Special Teams
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Position Grade: C
Analysis: Outside of kicker Camden Lewis, the special teams were atrocious in 2022. While I think that things will be better this year thanks to a new punter in Luke Dunne and the return of Lewis, I still can’t say I feel extremely confident that Oregon will have one of the best units in the conference. That may be something that takes some time. At this point, I think Duck fans would be happy with an average grade.
